LOTUS EMIRA COUPE 2.0 Turbo SE 2dr DCT

The Emira is everything a Lotus sportscar should be. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

In future years, the Emira might well be remembered as the last true Lotus sports car. Much is different here thanks to new brand owners Geely. But thankfully, much about this car's driver-orientated design is also familiar too. If you're looking for the last gasp of addictive Lotus tyre smoke before the EV era finally dawns upon us, you'll find it here.

Background

There will never be another Lotus like this. Like so many others, the marque is heading into an all-electric future, but just before it does, here is the final sign-off; a proper classic sports car in the finest Lotus traditions, the Emira. Think of it as a successor to the brand's old Evora and you won't be far out. Much of the underlying structure is shared with that car and, as with the Evora, you can also get a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 plumbed-in out back, here supercharged and sounding even better. But the Emira is a much more advanced piece of design, not just to look at but inside (much more day-to-day usable) and technologically (thanks to parts supplied by new Chinese owners Geely). A much more credible competitor then, to the two targeted rivals, Porsche's 718 Cayman and the Alpine A110. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

Lotus cars have traditionally been created around a lightweight mantra that persisted all the way through the brand's history right up to the point where the Evora was introduced in 2009. That car couldn't be especially lightweight as its power came from a rather substantial Toyota 3.5-litre V6 and the Emira is equally far away from the current class lightweight champion (the Alpine A110) because it uses basically that same Toyota engine. This features here in supercharged form putting out 400bhp (and 420Nm of torque), which means it's good for 62mph in 4.2s en route to 180mph. There's a choice between a 6-speed manual gearbox (borrowed from the Evora and the Exige) or a 6-speed paddleshift auto transmission. The alternative to that unit is another borrowed engine, this 2.0-litre four cylinder unit sourced from Mercedes-AMG (specifically the A 45 S hot hatch), this powerplant here putting out 400bhp (with 480Nm of torque) and only offered with 8-speed dual clutch auto transmission. Performance of this Turbo SE version is quoted at 62mph dispatched in 4.0s en route to 180mph. Either engine is screwed into a typical Lotus extruded and bonded aluminium chassis and there are three driving modes - 'Tour', 'Sport' and 'Track'. Neither of these affects steering (still of the old-tech hydraulic kind) or the suspension (the brand offers a choice of road-orientated 'Touring' suspension or a much firmer track-orientated 'Sports' set-up). Either way, traction through the turns should be awesome - Lotus claims the Emira can corner at up to 1.2g. A V6 GT4 version is offered for track series use.

Design and Build

We wish this is what the old Evora had looked like. The Emira is gorgeous, no question. If you choose it over its two main rivals, it'll be because you think it looks more exotic than a Porsche 718 Cayman (true) and more aggressive than an Alpine A110 (also true). You might even, like us, see shades of Ferrari 458 Italia here. And all those ducts and scoops are absolutely functional. Yet the lottery-level looks haven't come at the expense of practicality. On the contrary, this is the easiest Lotus sports car in history to get in and out of, though the wide door sills mean that access and exit still aren't as straightforward as they would be in an Alpine or a Cayman. Once at the wheel, you sit low in front of an octagonally-shaped wheel decorated with buttons that are all too easy to inadvertently knock as you turn it. For the first time in a Lotus, you start the car with a button, this one embellished with a red flap. And the column stalks are borrowed from fellow Geely brand Volvo. Ahead of you are two digital screens, one 12.3-inch display for the instruments, the other 10.25-inch monitor in the centre of the dash for infotainment; graphics are minimalist and climate functions are separated out into proper buttons. Unlike in the old Evora, there are no tiny 911-style rear seats; so you can squash luggage in the 208-litre space behind the front chairs as well as in the compact 151-litre boot. Unlike in a Cayman, there's no extra 'frunk' beneath the bonnet; that's due to crash structure demands.

Market and Model

At the time of this Review, Lotus was asking around £90,000 for this Emira in its four cylinder 2.0-litre i4 Turbo SE form (with an 8-speed auto) - which is what we tried. Or from £92,500 in 3.5-litre V6 Supercharged guise - that's with manual transmission; it's £1,800 more for an auto gearbox. The Emira Turbo SE comes with the Lotus Drivers Pack as standard including Sports suspension settings, uprated cross drilled and ventilated two-piece brake discs and launch control as standard. In addition to performance enhancements the Emira Turbo SE also features a variety of core design features. These include newly finished 20-inch V-spoke forged Satin Grey wheels as standard as well as Zinc Grey paint, Alcantara headliner, red brake callipers, new 'Emira Turbo SE' badging, new black Lotus branding and black Lotus badging and tailpipes. The Emira V6 includes performance features like cross drilled and ventilated two-piece brake discs, Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport tyres, the Touring suspension and a limited slip differential (LSD) for manual models. Also, the Emira V6 hosts a number of design features like headlining, A-Pillars and Cantrail in black technical fabric and new model branding.

Cost of Ownership

You can't expect the kind of fuel consumption figures we used to see from previous era lightweight Lotus sports cars. This one tips the scales at 1,440kg - compare that to the 1,105kg of a rival Alpine A110. The result of that shows up in the efficiency stats of course. In 3.5-litre V6 form, the Emira manages 25.2mpg on the combined cycle and 258g/km of CO2. Don't expect too much better than that if you opt for the alternative 'I4' four cylinder 2.0-litre turbo version; Lotus quotes 25mpg and a 208g/km CO2 figure. Either way of course, you'll need to budget generously for tyres and brake pads if, as you should, you regularly take your Emira on track days. A five year warranty is standard in the UK. Lotus offers roadside assistance across Europe for five years after vehicle purchase.

Summary

The Emira, in so many ways, is the car its predecessor the Evora should have been, in terms of styling, cabin quality, technology and day-to-day usability. It is at last a Lotus you don't have to be a died-in-the-wool brand loyalist to consider - and we've been waiting for one of those ever since the marque was formed by Colin Chapman back in 1948. Chapman didn't much care if those outside the track day set didn't want his cars, but current day new-era owner Geely does. That Chinese conglomerate has no intention of allowing Lotus to produce models like the Emira in the future, but we can at least be thankful that it has permitted the company one last chance to get a classic sports car right; right in the sense that it's accessible to a wide audience, not just a few. The Emira is and it's a mark of its success that it will appeal to customers as diverse someone used to the old track-ready Exige, as well as someone swapping out of a 718 Cayman. So the best was indeed saved until last. It isn't as light as an A110 or as relatively practical as that Porsche. But it's a proper Lotus, a future collector's item and a car that gets that final ringing endorsement: Colin Chapman would have liked it.

Body Glass

Automatic wipers

Frameless door windows

Front electric windows

Front glass windscreen

Glass side windows

Quick demist heated front screen

Rear tailgate glass with demister function

Rear view mirror and sensor pod

Rear window heating

Side quarterlight glass

Brakes

Adaptive brake assist

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Automatic brake pre-fill

Automatic warning brake

Autonomous emergency braking

Brake lamp flash

Branded brake calipers

Controlled deceleration for parking brake

Corner brake control

Drag torque control (DTC)

EBA

Electric parking brake (EPB) spot caliper black unbranded

Electronic brake force distribution

Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)

Hill holder

Hydraulic brake assist

Hydraulic rear wheel boost

Integrated traction control

Parking brake control

Power assisted brakes

Symetric brake torque control (SBT)

Vehicle dynamic control (VDC)

Yaw moment control (YMC)

Carpets/Rugs

Premium floor mats

Chassis/Suspension

Anodised, lightweight extruded aluminium bonded chassis structure

Anti-roll bars

Double wishbone front and rear suspension

Suspension, passive set up

Communication

Apple car play/Android Auto

eCall emergency call system

Hands free bluetooth system

Network coverage, data plan and navigation provider

Voice commands

Driver Aids

B-call manual button

Boot release button

Clear stone chip preparation

Corner stability control

Downforce display

Economy gearshift indicator

Fuel filler release

Steering wheel with cruise control operation

Tailgate

Travel data recorder

Driver Convenience

Cruise control ACC on and off

Door arresters with 2 stop positions

Drive mode selector

Electric hydraulic power assisted steering

Engine start button

Front parking sensors

G-meter

Haptic steering

Intergrated rear spoiler

Lane departure warning

Lap timer

Navigation mapping display

Paddle shift with PRND selector

Performance meter: bhp, Nm, boost pressure

Rear parking sensors

Selectable drive modes - Sport

Selectable drive modes - Tour

Selectable drive modes - Track

Selector gear display

Speed limiter

Traffic sign recognition

Driver Information

10.25" touchscreen MMI

12.3" TFT instrument display

Exterior temperature display

Fatigue detection system

MPH speedometer

Navigation system

Oil level indicator

On board diagnostics

RDS

Rev counter

RPM display with shift lights

Service interval indicator

Trip computer

Driving Mirrors

Door mirror indicators lights

Door mirror memory

Door mirrors with reverse dipping function

Electric adjustable door mirrors

Power folding and heated door mirrors

Rear screen defrost

Embellishment Trims

A-pillars, B-pillars, cantrail and headlining finished in black Alcantara

Body coloured upper trim

Brushed aluminium trim

Gloss Black lower, plinth arm and bezel

Leather interior door trim

Metal finish dash trim

Engine

Exhaust particle filter

Launch control

Entertainment

10.25 landscape orientation, high resolution HMI screen

Auxiliary input socket

Centre console media control knob

FM/AM/ DAB

HMI screen, CSD Bezel in satin Chrome, CSD support in Black painted grained plastic

iPod interface

Steering wheel audio controls

Type C USB connector

USB Connector - lower centre console (USB Connector-type A charge only)

USB Connector type A arm rest - data and charge

Exterior Body Features

Aero design door handle operation

Body coloured bumpers

Door sill protection

Emira branded sill kickplates

Emira logo on driver instrument display during start up

Exhaust satin silver inner tail pipe finisher

Initial anti-corrosion treatment

Lotus Branded, Yellow and Black Lotus roudel logo, "For the Driver" script to both key sides

NOx storage catalytic converter

Rear boot

Without exterior accents

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlight activation via dusk sensor

Automatic headlight levelling

Emira branding to front and rear lamp with Emira logo headlight internal bezel

LED 3rd brake light

LED daytime running lights

LED fog lights

LED headlamps

LED indicator lights

LED number plate light

Side marker light - Clear

Welcome home lighting

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air quality sensor

Cabin air filter

Recirculation control

Single zone climate control air conditioning

Interior Features

12 volt power supply in centre armrest storage

12V Accessory socket

Aluminium treadplates with Emira engraved

C-pillar union flag badge "Emira Turbo SE", embossed aluminium and black monochrome texture

Cargo net

Central multimedia display

Centre console armrest

Coat hooks

Cup holders

Driver and passenger door bin storage with integrated armrest

Emira badge on dashboard in front of passenger

Exhaust valve cooling duct in rear diffuser

Illuminated front center console storage compartment

Multifunction sport steering wheel

Rear luggage compartment

Satin chrome interior trim finishers

Sport pedals

Steering column manually adjustable for height and reach

Steering wheel lower spoke finished in satin chrome

Steering wheel mounted paddle shift levers finished in satin chrome

Stowage - door bin, glovebox, centre console

Interior Lights

Illuminated interior door handles

Luggage compartment light

Timed interior light

White ambient lighting

Safety

Curtain Airbag

Emergency door unlock

Failsafe physical key

Front and rear seatbelt reminder

Front seatbelt pretensioners

Front side airbags

Full size driver and passenger airbags

Handsfree telephone

Height adjustable front seat belts (4 levels)

Passenger airbag

Passenger airbag deactivate switch

Phyrotechnic seat belt pretensioners

Physical button steering wheel control

Rear fixed glass bulkhead panel

Secondary collision reduction

Thorax airbags

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Tyre pressure monitoring system with individual tyre pressure display - TPMS

Warning triangle

Seats

12 way electrically adjustable front seats with driver's memory function

Driver seat base with adjustable inclination

Driver/passenger electric lumbar adjustment

Front head restraints

Front passenger seat backrest adjust

Front sports seats

Single front passenger seat

Security

Alarm

Alarm deactivation

Anti theft wheel bolts

Central locking

Immobiliser

Keyless Go

Keyless start

Locking wheel nuts

Preparation for alcohol interlock

Remote central locking

Vehicle immobiliser

Vehicle tracking system preparation

Service/Warranty

Warranty - 3 Years/Unlimited Mileage

Vanity Mirrors

Illuminated passenger vanity mirror

Wheels - Spare

Tool kit

Tyre repair kit

Emissions - ICE

CO: 0.173

HC: 0.018

HC+NOx: N

Noise Level dB(A): 70

NOx: 0.014

Particles: 0.0004

Standard Emissions: EURO 6

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 208

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 208

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 208

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High: 188

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEH: 188

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Extra High - TEL: 188

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High: 174

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEH: 174

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - High - TEL: 174

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low: 360

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEH: 360

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Low - TEL: 338

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium: 208

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEH: 208

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Medium - TEL: 208

Engine and Drive Train

Camshaft: DOHC

Catalytic Convertor: No

CC: 1991

Compression Ratio: 9.0:1

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Cylinders: 4

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 83

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 92

Engine Code: M139

Engine Layout: MID ENGINE TRANSVERSE

Fuel Delivery: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION

Gears: 8 SPEED

Number of Valves: 16

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 9.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 9.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 9.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High: 8.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 8.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 8.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High: 7.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 7.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 7.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low: 15.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 15.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 14.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium: 9.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 9.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 9.2

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 30.7

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 30.7

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 30.8

WLTP - MPG - Extra High: 35

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 34

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 35

WLTP - MPG - High: 36.6

WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 36.6

WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 36.7

WLTP - MPG - Low: 18.4

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 18.4

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 19

WLTP - MPG - Medium: 30.2

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 30.2

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 30.7

General

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

Badge Engine CC: 2.0

Badge Power: 400

Based On ID: N

Coin Description: N

Coin Series: Turbo SE

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: N

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 8

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

Service Interval Mileage: 12000

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): No

0 to 62 mph (secs): 3.8

Engine Power - BHP: 400

Engine Power - KW: 298

Engine Power - PS: 0

Engine Power - RPM: 6500

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 354

Engine Torque - MKG: 48.9

Engine Torque - NM: 480

Engine Torque - RPM: 3000

Top Speed: 181

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Tyre Size Front: 245/35 R20

Tyre Size Rear: 295/30 R20

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Style: V-SPOKE

Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY

Vehicle Dimensions

Height: 1235

Height (including roof rails): N

Length: 4413

Wheelbase: 2570

Width: 1895

Width (including mirrors): 2092

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 58

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1745

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): N

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 359

Max. Loading Weight: 290

Max. Roof Load: N

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: N

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: N

Minimum Kerbweight: 1455

No. of Seats: 2

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.9

Body Glass

Privacy glass to rear 3/4 windows and rear windscreen

Brakes

Black brake calipers

Silver brake calipers

Yellow brake calipers

Chassis/Suspension

Touring chassis setting

Driver Aids

Homelink

Driving Mirrors

Carbon fibre door mirrors

Gloss black door mirrors

Entertainment

KEF premium branded high end audio system (630w,11 speakers incl. fresh air subwoofer)

Exterior Body Features

Additional Metallic paint

Exclusive metallic paint

Gloss Chrome Lotus lettering

Removable roof with stowage bag

Satin silver tailpipe finisher

Special metallic paint

Yellow and black "Lotus" badges

Exterior Lights

Tinted LED taillights

Interior Features

Additional alcantara/leather upholstery

Additional nappa leather upholstery

Black alcantara steering wheel with Grey 12 O'clock marker and stitching

Black alcantara steering wheel with Red 12 O'clock marker and stitching

Black alcantara steering wheel with Yellow 12 O'clock marker and stitching

Black nappa leather seering wheel with Yellow 12 O'clock marker and stitching

Black nappa leather steering wheel with Black 12 O'clock marker and stitching

Black nappa leather steering wheel with Grey 12 O'clock marker and stitching

Black nappa leather steering wheel with Red 12 O'clock marker and stitching

Nappa leather upholstery

Two-tone Nappa leather upholstery

Packs

Convenience pack - Emira

Extended Co-Driver pack - Emira Scura

Full black pack - Emira

Lotus Driver's pack with touring suspension and launch control

Lower black pack - Emira

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Hethel yellow

Metallic - Osmium silver

Metallic - Vivid red

Metallic - Zinc grey

Paint - Special

Exclusive metallic - EOS Green

Exclusive metallic - Magma red

Exclusive metallic - Purple haze

Exclusive metallic - Seneca blue

Special metallic - Atlantis blue

Special metallic - Cosmos black

Special metallic - Dark verdant

Special metallic - Meridian blue

Special metallic - Mist white

Special metallic - Nimbus grey

Special metallic - Shadow grey

Safety

Red seatbelts

Yellow seatbelts

Seats

Heated front seats

Security

Scorpion S5 vehicle tracker system

Trim - Leather

Nappa leather - Black

Nappa leather - Grey

Nappa Leather - Red

Nappa Leather - Tan

Two-tone Nappa leather - Red/black

Two-tone Nappa leather - Yellow/black

Trim - Part Leather

Alcantara/leather - Black with grey stitching

Alcantara/leather - Black with red stitching

Alcantara/leather - Black with yellow stitching

Wheels

20" tyres - MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup 2 - 245/35 front and 295/30 rear

Wheels - Alloy

20" 10-spoke lightweight - Gloss black

20" 10-spoke lightweight alloys - Gloss silver

20" 15 spoke ultra lightweight - Gloss black

20" 15 spoke ultra lightweight - Gloss silver

20" 15 spoke ultra lightweight diamond turned - Satin grey

20" V-spoke ultra lightweight - Gloss black

20" V-spoke ultra lightweight - Gloss silver

20" V-spoke ultra lightweight diamond turned - Gloss black

20" V-spoke ultra lightweight diamond turned - Satin grey